School library service

SLS resources Our resource and information centre is based at Blackburn Central Library, on the third floor, and is open all year.

Find us: Town Hall Street

Phone us: (01254) 587917

E-mail us: school.library.service@blackburn.gov.uk

Journals available to read in our comfy seating area

Visitors may:

select stock – either for loan or for school ownership
ask for advice and refer to the professional literature collection
read current educational journals
access the public library catalogue and the Internet.

The school library service - objectives

Blackburn with Darwen school library service was established in 1998. It has the following objectives:

to offer an accessible service from a local base.
to co-ordinate a cost effective loan service of quality learning resources to support the National Curriculum and the wider curriculum.
to supply independent specialist advice and training in respect of school library planning, maintenance and development and in the management of all stock stored in schools.
to encourage reading amongst students of all ages and ability both for the purpose of improving literacy skills and to promote independent learning.

Please express your thoughts - we will listen

You can contact us either by using the Sound response form found in your annual information pack, obtainable from School Library Service, or by e mail: school.library.service@blackburn.gov.uk

Qiss logo In February 2009, Library and information services achieved 'Established' accreditation to the DfES Quality in Study Support (QiSS) standard. The award relates to out of hours learning and the assessment covered all aspects of library service provision for 0 to19 year olds. By gaining Established status, the service has moved immediately through two of the three levels of good practice and will retain this status for the next three years. QiSS accreditation more usually focuses on schools and nationally, only a few library authorities have achieved recognition.

Good school libraries: making a difference to learning

This important report identifies those factors, which help to produce good libraries in primary and secondary schools.

It emphasises the importance of:

the commitment and support of head teachers
the appointment of specialist library staff
effective monitoring and evaluation
coherent programmes for developing information literacy.

Click to download the full report.

Resources for your school library

Each year you will be invited into the School Library Service to choose a selection of books to help keep your collection up to date. These books are yours to keep on long-term loan and process as you wish.

Resources to borrow

Story bag - size theme Non Fiction loans consist of up to 30 multimedia items on one or more topics. Use the online request form or the paper copy from your information pack. Loans come to you for a term and are delivered and collected by the courier.

Fiction Loans

These come pre-packed and consist of:

storybags
novel sets
framework packs
Play sets graded reader packs
playsets
poetry collections
author/illustrator collections
other special interest collections

You can also come along and choose your own.

Individual items

Big books, DVDs, videos and CD Roms are available to be collected and returned by personal visit. Details available on request.

Type of loan	Length of loan	Courier service
Non-fiction resource loan	One term	Yes
Fiction	Half term	Yes
Individual items	Half term	No

To request a resource loan box, click here.

Professional help and advice

Schools receive a budget for each financial year to be spent on School Library Service resources. Any unspent budget may not be carried over. In order to assist schools in planning their spending, a financial statement is sent into schools each term and we offer a minimum of one consultation with each subscriber, per annum.

We also provide:

Pre-OFSTED/post-OFSTED support
Training courses for teachers on library, information and book related issues
Information and library skills workshops for children delivered in school or at the public library
Local history workshops
Opportunities for pupils to contribute to public library service projects

Subscribers to the service receive Sound bites, a newsletter, issued every half term, which provides details of library developments. They may also take advantage of the new book purchase scheme with significant discounts.

The service evolves in response to customer need and any thoughts, ideas, recommendations or complaints may be fed direct to staff or recorded on a 'sound response' feedback form.